Technique

Pressing Matters

Pressing is not simply about extracting liquid—it is about managing the extraction of phenolic compounds, tannins, color, and other struct

Article

Turn a Flawed Wine Into a Great Cocktail

Before you pour a disappointing wine down the drain, consider whether it has potential for a second life in a wine cocktail. The key is iden

Article

Precision Winemaking at Your Fingertips

Winemaking is full of calculations, but they don’t have to be intimidating. A veteran winemaker shares his free online winemaking calculat

Article

Cerasuolo Rosé

Cerasuolo-style rosés extract greater color, flavor, tannin, and texture to bridge the gap between the refreshing acidity of white wine and

Technique

Managing High-Protein Hybrids

Higher protein content in hybrid grapes binds tannins and reduces mouthfeel, potentially leaving these wines lacking. This can be mitigated

Technique

Balancing Must

Grapes aren’t always harvested with ideal numbers to be made into wine. Getting them often requires intervention by the winemaker. This co

Article

The Wild West of Winemaking

We share a recap and photos from a recent trip WineMaker readers took to explore Mexico’s Valle de Guadalupe wine region.

Article

Chenin Blanc: A Chameleon Grape for Any Taste

No matter your style preference for white wines, there is a good chance Chenin Blanc could produce an ideal wine for you. It’s a chameleon

Article

Wine Mimosas

A home winemaker shares how a failed batch early in her exploration of the hobby led to an unforgettable mixer. Who’s up for wine mimosas?

Article

Pre-Fermentation Actions

From performing cold soaks, running lab tests, or making adjustments, don’t overlook the time between harvesting your grapes and the start

Wine-wizard

Managing Headspace

What’s the best way to manage headspace at the top of your aging carboy? Hint: It is not gas.

Wine-wizard

Recorking Bottles

What is the process for replacing compromised corks if the wine inside the bottle is still of high quality?

Wine-wizard

Relying on Pectic Enzymes

A reader asks if there is a downside to pre-treating all wines with pectic enzyme.

Wine-wizard

pH Adjustments

Is raising pH with potassium bicarbonate a good option?

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Article

Preparing for Your Backyard Harvest

Home viticulturists should begin preparing for harvest well in advance. From ongoing vineyard maintenance to ensuring equipment is cleaned a

Article

Preparing Your Winery for Harvest

Harvest season is the most important — and demanding — time of year for home winemakers, and it’s not something you want to leave to l

Article

2026 WineMaker International Amateur Wine Competition Recap

We share the top winners and highlights of this year’s wine competition, which received 1,043 entries from 40 U.S. states, 4 Canadian prov

Article

Set a Foundation With Kit Concentrates

Juice concentrate can be used for more than making kit wines. It is incredibly reliable, balanced, and easy to work with, which makes it a g

Article

Much More Than Just Sauvignon Blanc

We recap and share photos from a recent trip former WineMaker Publisher Brad Ring led readers on, visiting vineyards and winery tasting room

Article

Sampling for Ripeness

Harvest timing is the most important decision a winemaker will make, which means collecting accurate samples to base the decision on is crit

Article

Oaking by Doing

Oak plays an important role in many red wine styles, but it is also one of the easiest elements to overdo — especially on a small scale, w

Article

Petit Verdot: Bordeaux’s Color Adjustor

Petit Verdot is most commonly used as a blending tool to boost color in red wines, though this unique, thick-skinned French grape also makes

Technique

Delestage Demystified

Delestage is a multi-step “rack-and-return” technique intended for red wines when seeking brighter fruit character, softer tannins, a ro